Read More 1. A Call to Stop Senate Bill 147 and All Alien Land Laws Friday, February 17, 2023 12:00 AM Read More 1. Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations Thursday, October 16, 2025 12:00 AM Read More 1. From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities Wednesday, December 11, 2024 12:00 AM Read More 1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" Wednesday, September 30, 2020 12:00 AM Read More 2. Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community Tuesday, March 4, 2025 12:00 AM Read More 2. Historical Re-Hash - Alien Land Law and SB147 Wednesday, March 1, 2023 12:00 AM Read More 2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists Wednesday, December 2, 2020 12:00 AM Read More 3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present Wednesday, February 24, 2021 12:00 AM Read More 4. Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy - How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative” Wednesday, April 28, 2021 12:00 AM Read More 5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" Wednesday, June 23, 2021 12:00 AM Read More A Dialogue Between the Academic & Asian American Communities and the FBI Thursday, June 6, 2024 12:00 AM Read More Capstone Town Hall: The End of The "China Initiative" Thursday, March 17, 2022 12:00 AM

Webinars Capstone Town Hall: The End of The "China Initiative" Watch China Initiative: Past and Present 中国行动的前世今生 Watch 2. Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community Watch A Dialogue Between the Academic & Asian American Communities and the FBI Watch 1. From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities Watch Perils of Warrantless Surveillance: The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reform Watch Reflecting on Prof. Gang Chen’s Case & Looking Ahead to the Future of the China Initiative Watch 2. Historical Re-Hash - Alien Land Law and SB147 Watch 1. A Call to Stop Senate Bill 147 and All Alien Land Laws Watch 1. Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations Watch 5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" Watch 4. Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy - How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative” Watch 3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present Watch 2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists Watch 1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" Watch

Yanping Chen 陈燕平 Docket ID: 1:18-cv-03074 District Court, D. Columbia Date filed: Dec 21, 2018 DC Circuit Appeals Court Appellate Case 24-5050 Table of Contents Overview 2018/12/21 Complaint Against the Government 2022/10/26 Update on Lawsuit 2023/11/27 Update on Lawsuit 2024/02/29 Contempt Ruling to Present Current State Overview Dr. Yanping Chen is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China. She was a cardiologist and medical researcher with the Chinese astronaut program. She became a lawful permanent resident in 1993, and a U.S. citizen in 2001. In 1998, Dr. Chen founded the University of Management and Technology in Arlington, Virginia, to provide secondary and graduate education to working adults. In 2010, Dr. Chen became the focus of a Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) investigation. After 6 years of investigation including searches of her home and office, Dr. Chen was told that no charges will be filed against her in 2016. However, beginning in February 2017, Fox News, in stories led by reporter Catherine Herridge, aired a series of negative reports about Dr. Chen using heavily leaked materials from the FBI investigation. On December 21, 2018, Dr. Chen filed a privacy lawsuit against the FBI, Department of Justice, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. This case is ongoing. 2018/12/21 Complaint Against the Government On December 21, 2018, attorneys for Dr. Yanping Chen filed a civil lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Department of Justice, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security, collectively the Government. The complaint seeks monetary, injunctive, and declaratory relief to rectify injuries she has suffered as a result of the Government’s illegal and unwarranted public disclosure of her personal information in violation of the Privacy Act. Dr. Yanping Chen is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China. She was a cardiologist and medical researcher with the Chinese astronaut program. Dr. Chen came to the U.S. in 1987 to study and earned a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from George Washington University. She became a lawful permanent resident in 1993, and a U.S. citizen in 2001. She is a resident of Virginia. In 1998, Dr. Chen founded the University of Management and Technology (UMT) in Arlington, Virginia, to provide secondary and graduate education to working adults. More than 12,000 students have received degrees in the last 20 years. In 2010, Dr. Chen became the focus of a FBI investigation, which appeared to focus on statements Dr. Chen made on immigration forms concerning her work in the 1980s as a scientist for the Chinese astronaut program. Over six years of overt and covert investigations, including searches of Dr. Chen’s home and office, Dr. Chen was informed that no charges would be filed against her. Beginning in February 2017, Fox News aired a series of negative reports drawing heavily from leaked materials from the FBI investigation, resulting in personal, professional, and financial harm to Dr. Chen. These stories made misleading insinuations to accuse her of spying for China. Congressmembers then pressured the government to end UMT's participation in the Department of Defense tuition assistance program, and the Department of Defense did so in 2018 on "national security grounds." References and Links 2019/12/26 National Law Journal: Suit Claims Federal Agencies Leaked Chinese-American Scientists' Info to Fox News 2018/12/21 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: (Doc 1) Complaint 2022/10/26 Update on Lawsuit The Fox News reporter was identified as Catherine Herridge. She joined the Fox News Channel at its inception in 1996 and left for CBS News to become a senior investigative correspondent in 2019. On April 17, 2019, the Government motioned to dismiss Dr. Chen’s case. On January 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper denied the Government’s motion to dismiss. On May 11, 2021, Judge Cooper denied a motion by Dr. Chen made on January 22, 2021, to compel the FBI to respond to discovery requests concerning the use of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Rhoads to help investigate her. Stephen Rhoads frequently communicated with Catherine Herridge in advance of the Fox News publications. The denial of Dr. Chen’s motion was without prejudice to renewal based on future developments. After deposing 18 current and former government employees, Dr. Chen was unable to confirm the sources for the stories. She then moved to seek information about the leak directly from Fox News and Catherine Herridge. References and Links 2021/05/11 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: (Doc 46) Memorandum and Order 2021/01/22 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: (Doc 36-1) Declaration of Matthew T. Jones in Support of Plaintiff Yanping Chan’s Motion to Compel 2020/01/27 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: (Doc 13) Opinion and Order 2019/04/17 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: (Doc 9-1) Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Government’s motion to Dismiss 2023/11/27 Update on Lawsuit Dr. Chen subpoenaed Fox News and Catherine Herridge to force her to disclose the source of her reports in 2017. On August 8, 2022, Fox News and Catherine Herridge filed motions to quash the subpoena, citing journalists’ First Amendment protections. On May 30, 2023, a hearing was held before Judge Christopher Cooper on the motion. Fox News and Herridge were represented by Patrick Philbin, a former top lawyer from Donald Trump’s White House. On August 1, 2023, Judge Cooper issued a ruling that would force Catherine Herridge to participate in a deposition regarding the identity of her anonymous sources from the 2017 series of stories. “The Court recognizes both the vital importance of a free press and the critical role that confidential sources play in the work of investigative journalists like Herridge. But applying the binding case law of this Circuit, the Court concludes that Chen’s need for the requested evidence overcomes Herridge’s qualified First Amendment privilege in this case. The identity of Herridge’s source is central to Chen’s claim, and despite exhaustive discovery, Chen has been unable to ferret out his or her identity. The only reasonable option left is for Chen to ask Herridge herself,” the ruling said. In a deposition on September 26, 2023, Catherine Herridge was repeatedly asked about how she obtained the information for her 2017 stories. Herridge declined to answer dozens of such questions. On November 9, 2023, Dr. Chen requested a ruling on Catherine Herridge’s defiance of the Court’s order. References and Links 2023/11/08 CNN: A former Fox News correspondent is refusing to reveal a source. Her fate is now in a judge’s hands 2023/11/07 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: (Doc 161) Plaintiff Yanping Chen’s Application for an Order to Show Cause Why Non-Party Catherine Herridge Should Not Be Found in Civil Contempt For Defiance of The Court’s August 1, 2023 Order 2023/08/07 Just The News: Judge orders Catherine Herridge to reveal sources for stories on FBI, Chinese American scientist 2023/08/03 Voice of America: US Judge Orders Reporter to Reveal Confidential Sources 2023/08/01 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: (Doc 140) Memorandum and Order 2023/05/30 Politico: Fox News, backed by Trump White House lawyer, fights subpoena in leak lawsuit 2023/05/30 Court House News: Fox News pushes to quash subpoena that could unmask source 2022/08/08 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: (Doc 97) Fox News Network, LLC’s Motion to Quash 2022/08/08 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: (Doc 96-1) Memorandum in Support of Non-party Catherine V. Herridge’s Motion to Quash 2024/02/29 Contempt Ruling Catherine Herridge was among 20 CBS News employees laid-off in February 2024. On February 29, 2024, Judge Cooper held Catherine Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to divulge her source for her 2017 series of Fox News reports. Judge Cooper imposed a fine of $800 per day until Catherine Herridge reveals her source, but the fine will not go into effect immediately to give her time to appeal. Judge Cooper wrote that he “recognizes the paramount importance of a free press in our society” and the critical role of confidential sources in investigative journalism. But the judge said the court “also has its own role to play in upholding the law and safeguarding judicial authority.” “Herridge and many of her colleagues in the journalism community may disagree with that decision and prefer that a different balance be struck, but she is not permitted to flout a federal court’s order with impunity,” wrote Judge Cooper. On April 1, 2024, Dr. Chen filed a second motion to compel the FBI to specific deposition questions and reproduce specified documents without law-enforcement-privilege redactions. References and Links 2024/07/30 AALDEF: AALDEF files amicus brief in Chinese American scientist’s case against FBI over information leaked to media 2024/04/01 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: (Doc 197) Plaintiff Yanping Chen’s Second Motion to Compel 2024/02/29 New York Times: Judge Fines Ex-Fox News Reporter for Not Revealing Sources 2024/02/29 Washington Post: Journalist Catherine Herridge held in contempt for not revealing source 2024/02/29 Los Angeles Times: Journalist held in contempt for refusing to reveal sources in Fox News investigation 2024/02/29 AP: Judge holds veteran journalist Catherine Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to divulge source 2024/02/29 Chen v FBI 1:18-cv-03074: (Doc 193) Memorandum and Order 2023/12/08 Washington Post: A CBS reporter refusing to reveal her sources could be held in contempt https:// bit.ly/3WCm06i Current State Catherine Herridge appealed Judge Cooper's ruling. On July 29, 2024, the Asian American Legal and Education Defense Fund (AALDEF) and a coalition of 11 organizations including APA Justice filed a 43-page amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals in support of Dr. Chen. The brief addresses issues of racial prejudice and the negative stereotyping of Asian Americans, particularly in the context of government actions against Dr. Chen. AALDEF also issued a press statement: https://bit.ly/3WCm06i . The U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit Held a hearing on oral arguments on Herridge's appeal on November 18, 2024 . On September 30, 2025, a three-judge panel of the Appeals Court upheld a contempt finding against former Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge for refusing to reveal the government source who leaked FBI records about Dr. Chen. The court rejected Herridge’s claim of reporter’s privilege, ruling that Dr. Chen had met the legal test by showing the source’s identity was central to her Privacy Act case and that no alternatives remained. Herridge now faces $800 daily fines unless she complies. References and Links 2025/09/30 Courthouse News Service: DC Circuit rejects Fox News reporter effort to duck subpoena over anonymous source 2025/09/30 US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit: Case No. 24-5050 Decision on Yanping Chen v FBI et al 2024/11/18 Yahoo News: Court appears unlikely to spare former Fox News reporter in contempt fight 2024/07/30 AALDEF: AALDEF files amicus brief in Chinese American scientist’s case against FBI over information leaked to media 2024/07/29 USCA Case #24-5050: Brief of Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and Asian American Advocacy Organizations as Amici Curiae in Support of Plaintiff-Appellee Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #227 1/8 Monthly Meeting; Justice4All; "China Spy"; Repeal of Chinese Exclusion Act; + #227 1/8 Monthly Meeting; Justice4All; "China Spy"; Repeal of Chinese Exclusion Act; + In This Issue #227 · 2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Justice4All Protest in Miami - A Call for Unity Against Racism · Asian American Officials Cite Unfair Scrutiny and Lost Jobs in China Spy Tensions · White House Statement on Repeal of Chinese Exclusion Act · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, January 8, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Joanna Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed and invited speakers include: · Rep. Judy Chu 赵美心, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, to kick off the New Year with us by reviewing 2023 and looking to what is ahead in 2024. · Haipei Shue 薛海培, President, United Chinese Americans (UCA), Hongwei Shang 商红伟, and Echo King 金美声, Co-Founders of Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) to give us a report on the December 16 Justice4All protest in Miami. · Ted Gong, Executive Director of the 1882 Foundation, will introduce the 1882 Project, 1882 Foundation, and its upcoming activities in 2024, and Martin Gold , Pro Bono Counsel, 1882 Project; Partner, Capitol Counsel, LLC, on a future lecture. · Dr. Yawei Liu 刘亚伟, Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter Center to introduce us to the China Focus at the Carter Center and the upcoming Conference for the 45th Anniversary of U.S.-China Relations in Atlanta. The monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎, Vincent Wang 王文奎, and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . Justice4All Protest in Miami - A Call for Unity Against Racism December 16, 2023, was a stormy day in Miami, but hundreds from the state of Florida and across the nation gathered at The Torch of Friendship to protest the unfair legislation of SB264 and SB846. SB 264 was passed by the Florida legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, marking a troubling return to discriminatory policies reminiscent of the Chinese Exclusion Act. It unfairly restricts most Chinese citizens — and most citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea — from purchasing homes in the state. SB 264 has raised significant concerns. Violations of the ban could result in severe civil and criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to 5 years. Moreover, SB 264 mandates property registration, threatening law-abiding, taxpaying AAPI community members with an unprecedented and unreasonable penalty of $1,000 per day if their properties remain unregistered by December 31st, 2023. A lawsuit has been filed in the Northern District Court of Florida, arguing that SB 264 codifies and expands housing discrimination against people of Asian descent in violation of the Constitution and the Fair Housing Act. SB 846 put a roadblock in the path of Florida's public universities hiring Chinese graduate students and postdocs, which has sparked serious concerns among Florida’s academicians.Both state laws remind the communities of the era of the Chinese Exclusion Act when Chinese Americans and Asian Americans were subject to decades of discrimination and denied their lawful and constitutional rights. Leaders of the Chinese American community from across the country actively participated in this event, delivering inspirational speeches. Prominent figures included Congresswoman Judy Chu , former presidential candidate Andrew Yang , Texas State Representative Gene Wu , UCA President Haipei Shue , Co-founder of CALDA (Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance) attorney Clay Zhu , and North Miami Beach City Commissioner candidate Lynn Su . In addition, representatives from many organizations such as CASEC (The Chinese Association of Science, Education and Culture of South Florida), FAAJA (Florida Asian American Justice Alliance), The Yick Wo Institution, NAACP (The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), LULAC (The League of United Latin American Citizens), and ACLU (The American Civil Liberties Union), lent their voices to the cause. The rally also saw strong support from African American, Indian American, Caribbean, Jewish, Cuban and other Hispanic communities, as well as professors from Florida’s public universities such as University of Florida, Florida State University, and Florida International University. Despite adverse weather conditions, impassioned speeches resonated through the crowd, delivering a clear and unified message: Florida must reject the echoes of a new Chinese Exclusion Act. The rally opened and closed with a powerful group sing-along of the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome," symbolizing the collective strength and determination of Chinese Americans to overcome adversity.Visit the FAAJA website at https://www.faaja.org/ and read a press statement by The North American Economic Herald Media Group: https://prn.to/3H27hdt Asian American Officials Cite Unfair Scrutiny and Lost Jobs in China Spy Tensions According to the New York Times on December 31, 2023, national security employees with ties to Asia say U.S. counterintelligence officers wrongly regard them as potential spies and ban them from jobs.When Thomas Wong set foot in the United States Embassy in Beijing this summer for a new diplomatic posting, it was vindication after years of battling the State Department over a perceived intelligence threat — himself.Wong, a U.S. diplomat, faced a ban from working in China due to alleged concerns of foreign influence and preference. With a background in Chinese language and experience in the military, Wong aimed to contribute significantly to U.S.-China relations. However, he discovered that numerous Asian American diplomats encountered similar restrictions based on vague reasons provided during the security clearance process. This issue extends beyond the State Department, affecting various U.S. government agencies involved in national security and foreign policy. Employees with ties to Asia, regardless of their relevance, feel unfairly targeted by U.S. counterintelligence, limiting their potential contributions in crucial diplomatic, intelligence, and security roles.The concerns, notably raised by Asian American diplomats, led to bipartisan legislation attempting to address the problem. The military spending bill of December 14 includes language pushed by Representative Ted Lieu , Democrat of California, intended to make the department more transparent in its assignment restriction and review processes. While there have been instances of bans being reversed, many State Department employees still face restrictions without clear explanations. Additionally, counterintelligence officers can recommend bans based on investigations into job offers from countries deemed intelligence threats.The situation highlights the debate between addressing security risks and utilizing individuals with valuable language skills and cultural backgrounds to serve national interests. Despite some reversals, the issue of restrictive bans for government employees with Asian connections remains a point of contention within U.S. national security agencies. The New York Times report highlights instances of discrimination and suspicion faced by FBI counterintelligence officers due to their Chinese background. This issue has been exacerbated by concerns about Chinese espionage, leading to the establishment of the Justice Department's "China Initiative." This initiative involved investigating numerous ethnic Chinese scientists, often resulting in charges that were eventually dropped, causing harm to their careers and reputations. Despite the closure of the "China Initiative" in 2022, similar processes within national security agencies, occurring within secretive security clearance and assignment vetting, continue to impact individuals.Critics argue that the scrutiny faced by individuals with ties to China is unjustified, citing demographic shifts in the American population and emphasizing that having family in China does not inherently make someone susceptible to becoming a Chinese intelligence asset. However, some officials defend these security clearance denials or job restrictions, citing concerns about the Chinese government pressuring foreign citizens by targeting their family members in China.Legislation in 2021 revealed that the State Department had imposed the most restrictions for postings in China, followed by Russia, Taiwan, and Israel. The State Department refutes claims of discrimination, emphasizing adherence to guidelines from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and outlined criteria in the Foreign Affairs Manual. While there are senior Asian American officials in various U.S. agencies, concerns persist among Asian American employees regarding the ongoing suspicion and challenges they face due to their backgrounds.The passage underscores the persistent concerns of Asian American government employees, highlighted by Representative Andy Kim 's experience of being barred from work on Korean Peninsula issues, which he found disrespectful and humiliating. Many federal agencies conduct internal investigations without informing employees, such as the FBI's unit performing polygraph tests and potentially recommending security clearance revocation. At the State Department, background checks determine whether to impose assignment restrictions on diplomats.The security clearance process for officials is rigorous and intrusive, involving scrutiny of personal relationships, financial history, and more. Recent concerns about China's espionage have elevated the standards for clearance. Documents from the Defense Department show increasingly detailed assessments of China's spying efforts in the vetting of security clearances for federal contractors over the past two decades. In 2021, a Senate committee report exposed the Commerce Department's security unit for unlawfully investigating Chinese American employees like Sherry Chen . The report characterized the unit as a "rogue, unaccountable police force" that disproportionately targeted offices with high proportions of Asian American employees.Even government officers involved in China counterintelligence face suspicion from security officials due to their background, unfairly marking them as potential spies. Chris Wang , an FBI counterintelligence analyst, was placed in a surveillance program called PARM upon joining, subjecting him to extensive scrutiny of contacts, travel, and computer use. Despite his training and background, which included Chinese martial arts and study in Shanghai, he faced heightened suspicion due to his associations. Another former FBI officer, Jason Lee , is suing the agency for discrimination, citing instances where his familial ties were wrongly construed as evidence of espionage.Both Wang and Lee highlighted the challenges Chinese Americans face due to the stigma surrounding China, which often leads to unwarranted suspicions even when their connections are innocent. While the FBI asserted its commitment to fair polygraph tests and diversity, these cases shed light on the complexities and biases Chinese American employees encounter within security units.At the State Department, a group representing Asian American employees has been advocating for reforms to address assignment restrictions. Since 2016, legislation has been introduced to drive changes in this regard.While some diplomats, like Yuki Kondo-Shah , have successfully challenged assignment restrictions, there are ongoing concerns despite Secretary Antony Blinken 's recent announcement of relaxed restrictions. Specifically, the provision known as assignment review allows counterintelligence officers to recommend bans after investigating employees offered posts deemed to have special intelligence threats, extending beyond China to countries like Russia, Vietnam, and Israel. Tina Wong , a vice president of the U.S. Foreign Service union, highlights the problematic nature of this provision. Stallion Yang , another diplomat, gathered data for the Asian American Foreign Affairs Association, revealing prolonged investigations for employees with ties to Asia. While the State Department responded, stating only a few investigations led to rejection, diplomats argue that this overlooks cases where employees left due to extended investigations.Moreover, aspiring diplomats like Ruiqi Zheng , a China-born American, faced challenges securing security clearance due to ties abroad, ultimately being rejected after a nearly two-year process. Despite aspirations and selective fellowships, individuals like Zheng encountered barriers due to their backgrounds, reflecting ongoing challenges faced by foreign-born Chinese Americans within the State Department's security clearance process.Read the New York Times report: https://nyti.ms/48FthXl . Read the case of Dr. Wei Su 苏炜: https://bit.ly/2E13gZU White House Statement on Repeal of Chinese Exclusion Act On December 17, 2023, President Joe Biden issued the following statement on the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act:"Our nation was founded on the fundamental idea that we are created equal and deserve to be treated equally. But for 61 years, the Chinese Exclusion Act failed to live up to that promise. It weaponized our immigration system to discriminate against an entire ethnic group and was followed by further discrimination against many in Europe and all of Asia. The Act, along with racism and xenophobia in other parts of American life, was part of the anti-Chinese 'Driving Out' era which included the Rock Springs and Hells Canyon massacres. In 1943, the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed and it was followed by laws that led to an immigration system that better reflected our values as a nation of immigrants. "On this anniversary, we remember those whose lives, families, and communities were irreparably harmed. We remember the brave and diverse voices – from Frederick Douglass to Blanche Bruce to Pearl Buck to the American Jewish Committee and so many others – who spoke up in solidarity against that Act and demanded a fairer and more just immigration system. And we recognize that despite the progress we have made, hate never goes away. It only hides. Today, there are those who still demonize immigrants and fan the flames of intolerance. It’s wrong. I ran for President to restore the soul of America. To bring people together and make sure we give hate no safe harbor. To celebrate the diversity that is our country’s strength. "For generations, people of Chinese heritage have enriched our country – from Chinese laborers who did backbreaking work to build the transcontinental railroad in the 1800s to the Chinese Americans who serve in our military, to the authors, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and scholars of today. We honor them, and all immigrants, who continue to make extraordinary contributions to our nation."Read the White House stateme nt at https://bit.ly/48tXKrG News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/01/07 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2024/01/09 The Jimmy Carter Forum on US-China Relations in Honor of 45th Anniversary of Normalization 2024/02/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2024/02/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Back View PDF January 2, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #317 Dr. Bryant Lin; Rep. Sylvester Turner; NIH Cuts Blocked Amidst Fear; DOGE Errors; + #317 Dr. Bryant Lin; Rep. Sylvester Turner; NIH Cuts Blocked Amidst Fear; DOGE Errors; + In This Issue #317 · NYT : Dr. Bryant Lin Got Cancer; He Didn't Quit · Remembering Congressman Sylvester Turner · Trump's Cuts to NIH Blocked Amidst Fear and Uncertainty · DOGE Errors and Questions of Transparency · News and Activities for the Communities NYT : Dr. Bryant Lin Got Cancer; He Didn't Quit According to New York Times on February 26, 2025, Dr. Bryant Lin 林百里 , a Stanford University professor and physician, was given a terminal Stage 4 lung cancer at age 50. A nonsmoker, he had spent much of his career researching lung cancer in Asian populations—only to find himself facing the very disease he had studied. Instead of withdrawing, he chose to teach a deeply personal course, “From Diagnosis to Dialogue: A Doctor’s Real-Time Battle With Cancer,” in which he shared his journey as both a doctor and a patient.The course filled immediately, with students even sitting on the floor to attend. Dr. Lin was moved by their enthusiasm, telling them, “It’s quite an honor for me, honestly. The fact that you would want to sign up for my class.”Throughout the 10-week course, he remained upbeat, guiding students through discussions on the psychology of illness, difficult medical conversations, and the role of spirituality in coping with disease. His wife, Christine Chan , spoke in a session on caregiving, describing her challenges and their family’s adjustments. Despite the severity of his condition, Dr. Lin’s humor shone through—when discussing new treatment options, he quipped, “Asking for a friend!”In one lecture, Dr. Lin shared a letter from a dying patient who had chosen to end dialysis, expressing gratitude for his care, “You treated me as you would treat your own father.”Dr. Lin explained that this moment stayed with him and inspired him to give back through his class. His goal was to help students see the humanity in medicine and, perhaps, inspire some to work in cancer care. By the final lecture, when he asked how many were considering that path, about a third raised their hands.His closing remarks echoed Lou Gehrig ’s famous farewell, “Yet today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.” He expressed gratitude for his students, family, and colleagues, stating, “I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for.”The class had an impact beyond medical training. Some students encouraged their families to get screened for lung cancer. One freshman, Gideon Witchel , took the course to better understand his mother’s past battle with breast cancer. Inspired by Dr. Lin, he finally talked to her about her illness, reading through letters she had written during treatment.Dr. Lin referred to his course as his “letter” to students, sharing his lessons while he still had time. Privately, he had written a personal letter for his sons to read after he was gone: “Whether I’m here or not, what I want you to know is that I love you. Of the many things I’ve done that have given my life meaning, being your daddy is the greatest of all.”His story became one of resilience, education, and love—an unfinished puzzle that others would continue piecing together.Read the New York Times article: https://bit.ly/43sYFZU Remembering Congressman Sylvester Turner According to multiple media reports, Congressman Sylvester Turner passed away suddenly on March 4, 2025. He was 70.Rep. Turner was elected to represent Texas' 18th Congressional District in the November 2024 election. The district includes much of inner-city Houston and the surrounding areas. Before him, the seat was held by late-Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee . Rep. Jackson Lee represented the district from 1995 until July 2024, when she died of pancreatic cancer. Prior to joining Congress this year, Rep. Turner was mayor of Houston and a member of the Texas House of Representatives.Both Reps. Turner and Jackson Lee participated actively in the opposition of the Texas alien land bill SB147 in 2023, taking to the streets and marching with the Asian American communities. According to Houston Public Media on January 23, 2023, then-Houston-Mayor Turner said, "Senate Bill 147 is just down right wrong. It is more divisive than anything else. Houston, the most diverse city in the United States, stands as one to say that we all should stand against 147." Trump's Cuts to NIH Blocked Amidst Fear and Uncertainty As of March 6, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 104.According to AP News , New York Times , STAT , and multiple media reports, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from slashing National Institutes of Health (NIH) payments for research indirect cost, a decision that suggests plaintiffs seeking to overturn the sweeping policy change are likely to eventually succeed. “Absent a nationwide injunction, institutions across the country will be forced to operate with the same uncertainty, resulting in the types of irreparable harm that a preliminary injunction is meant to prevent,” she wrote.Judge Kelley made the ruling in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. National Institutes of Health (1:25-cv-10338) which was filed in the U.S. Court for the District of Massachusetts. The case combined three lawsuits brought by coalitions of Democratic states, universities, and medical associations. Dr. David J. Skorton of the Association of American Medical Colleges, one of the plaintiffs, applauded the ruling. “These unlawful cuts would slow medical progress and cost lives,” he wrote in a statement, saying the NIH-funded research “benefits every person and community in America.”According to the Washington Post on March 6, 2025, the Trump administration’s orders have created more turmoil and damage at the NIH than was previously known. On January 24, 2025, the Trump administration installed Matthew Memoli , a longtime NIH influenza researcher and physician who was not part of the senior leadership ranks, as acting director, bypassing Lawrence Tabak , principal deputy director of NIH who served as acting director for two years under the Biden administration. That initial shock marked the beginning of six weeks of turmoil for NIH's scientific staff. In just that short period, the Trump administration reshaped NIH's leadership, stalled its core mission of identifying cutting-edge research to fund, and effectively silenced personnel at the world's largest biomedical research sponsor—a $48 billion operation supporting roughly 300,000 external scientists. The Washington Post provides a detailed week-by-week summary of the events.Even in a climate of fear, NIH employees say they want to protect their institution. They worry this winter of disruption may be causing lasting damage to the way science is conducted in the United States. “The whole thing could just disappear,” said Phil Murphy , senior investigator and chief of the laboratory of molecular immunology at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). “The biomedical research enterprise in the United States depends largely on NIH dollars. You take the dollars away, the labs go away, and you lose the next generation of scientists.” Latest Developments with Federal Employees According to AP News on March 5, 2025, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 180 employees who were laid off two weeks ago can come back to work. An email was reportedly sent with the subject line, “Read this e-mail immediately.” It said that “after further review and consideration,” a February 15 termination notice has been rescinded and the employee was cleared to return to work on Wednesday. “You should return to duty under your previous work schedule,” it said. “We apologize for any disruption that this may have caused.”According to NPR on March 5, 2025, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to temporarily reinstate close to 6,000 employees fired since February 13, finding reasonable grounds to believe the agency acted illegally in terminating them. MSPB issued a stay , ordering the USDA to return the fired workers to their jobs for 45 days while an investigation continues. The MSPB acts as an internal court to consider federal employees' complaints against the government. According to MSPB , the weekly number of cases it receives has spiked since February, reaching 2,178 in the most recent week. According to Federal News Network on March 4, 2025, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has just rehired about half of the employees it fired two weeks ago. The reversal comes after a federal judge ruled in American Federation Of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. United States Office of Personnel Management (3:25-cv-01780) that the Trump administration's directives telling agencies to fire their probationary employees were illegal. The reinstated workers will receive backpay and will not see a break in service. While 84 employees will be going back to work, the other 86 fired workers will still be out of their jobs. NSF said that is because they were intermittent employees and not full-time staff members. DOGE Errors and Its Lack of Transparency According to New York Times on March 3, 2025, for the second time in a week, Elon Musk’s "Department Government Efficiency" updated its “wall of receipts” to remove mistakes that inflated its success, erasing over $4 billion in claimed savings. It deleted or altered more than 1,000 contracts—40% of last week's listings. Total reported savings has dropped from $16 billion to under $9 billion since February 19.Experts have flagged numerous errors, including miscalculations, duplicate entries, and contracts that ended long ago. According to Inside Higher Ed on March 5, 2025, education scholars say the administration’s rash of cuts and lack of quality transparency will have a “devastating effect” on public policy and student outcomes for years to come.On February 18, 2025, President Trump ordered federal agencies to disclose all terminated programs, contracts, and grants to enhance transparency. However, the Department of Education has not provided details on cuts totaling $1.9 billion, despite requests. Critics argue the administration is failing to be truly transparent, with experts warning that these cuts will significantly impact research, policymaking, and education outcomes.“The cuts that happened recently are going to have far-reaching impacts, and those impacts could really be long term unless some rapid action is taken,” said Mamie Voight , president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy. “To eliminate data, evidence and research is working in opposition to efficiency,” she said.In a recent analysis, titled “ Running Down DOGE’s Department of Education Receipts ,” Nat Malkus , deputy director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, compared a leaked list of the 89 terminated Institute of Education Sciences contracts, along with detailed data from USASpending.gov * , to those DOGE had posted on its website. He said he found major inconsistencies in how savings were calculated. Antoinette Flores , director of higher education accountability and quality at New America, conducted similar research and also found that the DOGE data does not add up and exaggerates the savings. “It’s absolutely hypocrisy,” she said. “It feels like we’re all being gaslit. I don’t know why they are saying they want to be transparent without being transparent.” * What is USASpending.gov ? USASpending.gov is the official U.S. government website that tracks federal spending. It provides public access to data on how taxpayer dollars are allocated, including details on federal contracts, grants, loans, and other financial assistance. The site is managed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and aims to enhance transparency by allowing users to search and analyze government expenditures across agencies, recipients, and specific programs.USASpending.gov was created as part of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) of 2006, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush on September 26, 2006. The website was launched in 2007. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative2025/03/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/26 Policing White Supremacy: The Enemy Within2025/03/30 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2025/04/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. 03/12 MSU Webinar: The China Initiative On March 12, 2025, please join the webinar hosted by Michigan State University's Asian Pacific American Studies Program for an insightful discussion of the past and present of the China Initiative, a Trump administration program that targeted Asian American scholars and researchers for investigation and prosecution. Dr. Lok Siu of UC Berkeley and Dr. Jeremy Wu of APA Justice will speak at the event moderated by Dr. Kent Weber of Michigan State University.Register to attend: https://bit.ly/4hVaITO 3. USCET 2025 Summer Internship Opens The U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET) is accepting applications from undergraduate juniors, seniors, and graduate students passionate about U.S.-China relations. This hybrid, part-time internship at a nonprofit dedicated to cross-cultural dialogue offers hands-on experience and the opportunity to earn a stipend or academic credit. Read the job description and follow application steps here: https://bit.ly/3Nz4Tyi . Application Deadline: March 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. 4. Erratum In APA Justice Newsletter Issue #316 , Jeremy Berg was incorrectly identified as a former director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He previously served as the director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a division of NIH. We regret the error. Back View PDF March 7, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #129 Biden Signs Bill to Create Museum; Norm Goes Home to San Jose; Catch Up with the News #129 Biden Signs Bill to Create Museum; Norm Goes Home to San Jose; Catch Up with the News Back View PDF June 14, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #195: 6/5 Meeting; Voting Assistance; Stand With Asian Americans; Houston Safety #195: 6/5 Meeting; Voting Assistance; Stand With Asian Americans; Houston Safety In This Issue #195 2023/06/05 Monthly Meeting Summary Posted Asian Americans Feel Particularly Targeted By New Laws Criminalizing Those Who Assist Voters No Longer Suffering In Silence: Asian Americans Denied Tech Leadership Roles Go To Court Houston Town Hall Meetings on Asiatown Community Safety 2023/06/05 Monthly Meeting Summary Posted The June 5, 2023, APA Justice monthly meeting summary has been posted at https://bit.ly/42N0htX . We thank the following speakers for their updates and discussions: Casey Lee , Policy Advisor, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), provided updates on the Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act introduced by Reps. Al Green and Judy Chu and uplifted a primer on the alien land law issue that was published by Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Joanna Derman , Director of the Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights and National Security Program, gave updates on three Advancing Justice | AAJC activities: (a) messaging guidance and suggested talking points on how to frame conversations and policy work related to US-China strategic competition, (b) tracking all discriminatory land laws being introduced across the country, and (c) bill analysis guide on US-China legislation and determine its potential for immediate harm. Mary Tablante , Associate Director of Strategic Communications, Asian American Scholar Forum, gave updates on three activities: (a) a video series titled “Project Pioneer” with the National Science Foundation on contributions of Asian American and immigrant pioneers to the US and the world, (b) meetings with the Biden Administration to educate and give voice to issues of concern from the scholar community, and (c) convening an event in partnership with the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies on presidential appointments in the Federal Government. Elizabeth Goitein , Senior Director, Liberty & National Security Program, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, gave a briefing on the history, problems, and ongoing legislative battle over the reauthorization of section 702 of FISA. Section 702 authorizes warrantless surveillance. It is supposed to target only foreigners overseas, but for the last 15 years it has become a rich source of warrantless access to American’s communications - their emails, their phone calls, their text messages - in a way that completely undermines Congress's intent and Americans’ constitutional rights. Asian Americans and Chinese Americans in particular are extremely likely to be victims of these types of abuses. The Brennan Center's position is that Congress should not reauthorize Section 702 without significant, sweeping reforms. In the case of Professor Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 , a physics professor at Temple University, he was prosecuted based on false charges that he had shared secret information about superconductor technology. Those charges were the result of the Government's misreading of emails that the Government had intercepted. The Government ultimately had to drop the charges, but only after significant damage to Dr. Xi and his family. Dr. Xi has filed suit against the Government. In that suit, he alleges that the Government accesses emails using Section 702. Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) 华美维权同盟, gave an update on the lawsuit led by the legal team of CALDA, ACLU, AALDELF, and a law firm against the discriminatory Florida Senate Bill 264 which was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis into law on May 22. The legal team was working on a motion for preliminary injunction. The legal team has received tremendous support from organizations and communities. It shows our communities have realized that this is something we need to take a stand. Clay has also received tremendous support from sister and partner organizations and is monitoring the situations in other states. There is a lot of community efforts happening in Texas and Florida by Professor Steven Pei 白先慎 and many other people and Texas-based organizations lobbying the legislature and voicing our opposition to the bills. Ashley Gorski , Senior Staff Attorney, National Security Project, ACLU, commented that it is essential that we do all that we can to stop this Florida bill in its tracks to prevent copycat litigation from going forward and to work alongside so many community organizations that have been doing the hard work of advocating directly with the legislatures to try to stop these bills from going into effect. Ashley underscores that this law is stigmatizing and discriminatory just by virtue of it being in the books. People's lives are very concretely affected by this law going into effect. They risk losing deposits on the property that they have already contracted. If this law goes into effect, they are going to lose out on the opportunity to purchase that property. A real estate brokerage firm has already seen a decline in prospective clients and expects to lose a significant percentage of its business because of this law. Bethany Li , Legal Director, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), commented that the work that we are doing here on this case is very much in line with the China initiatives that we have done in the past, such as with the South Asian and Muslim community after 9/11. Asian American communities have been targeted for being national security threats and harmed. Throughout the call today, we are hearing not just the alien land law passed in Florida and the ones that we continue to monitor, but also a lot of the surveillance issues that have affected Asian American communities across the board as well as communities of color. One of the ways in which we try to approach our work against violence in Asian American communities is to pay closer attention to how the United States and different states enact laws and policies at different levels contribute to that violence, despite their rhetoric about wanting to protect and support Asian American communities from violence. Haipei Shue 薛海培 , President, United Chinese Americans, reported from Florida where he convened a two-day statewide retreat with the Chinese American community leaders to summarize what they have learned and how to move forward on community matters. With the sudden appearance of the alien land bill, the participants not only saw the bill firsthand, but many were also actively involved in fighting it. About 60 people from six major cities in Florida attended the retreat in Orlando. A new 501(c)(4) organization was born out of this protest movement. The name is Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA). At the same time, Chinese American communities in Louisiana and Alabama are still fighting against the bills that impact their lives in their states. The alien land bills impact the Chinese community countrywide. UCA will have similar retreats in other states that have been affected by such laws and prepare for next year, a presidential election year. Participants from California, Georgia, North and South Carolina to Florida. have joined weekly meetings started by Texas state representative Gene Wu every Sunday evening since February. Gene Wu 吳元之 , Member, Texas House of Representatives, saw how angry the community has become because of the importance of the alien land bills, massive organizational efforts, and some real key leaders stepping up to fill the gap. That was how the Texas bills were defeated. The real key was the community’s participation. It is very clear in other states like Louisiana and Florida, they did not have a strong Asian presence in the legislative body. Gene was glad to see in many other states, African American legislators just stood up and took the lead in defending against some of these bills. We need more national leadership on this issue because this issue is not going away. This is an existential crisis for the Asian community and especially for the Chinese community. We have periods and waves of anti-Chinese, anti-Asian sentiment in our nation's history, but this is one of the strongest pushes against our community that Gene has ever seen. Either we stand up and fight, or it is game over. The laws are just the tip of the wave, the crest of the coming wave is anti-Asian hate. There is a perfect storm of Covid, of tensions with China, and economic factors that are going to create the right environment for dramatically increased anti-Asian hate. It should be incumbent upon all Asian communities to start a campaign nationally that this is wrong. It is racist to hold Asian Americans responsible for what happens in other parts of the world when you don't do that to anybody else. We need to engage our media celebrities. We need to engage elected officials. We need to engage the President. We need to engage a lot of other groups to push back against this. A part of this is also fighting these bills at the national level. Read the 6/5 meeting summary: https://bit.ly/46GI6ZO . Watch the 6/5 meeting video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBYYQipLmis (1:36:15). Read past monthly meeting summaries: https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP Asian Americans Feel Particularly Targeted By New Laws Criminalizing Those Who Assist Voters According to the Associated Press (AP) on July 7, 2023, for a century, the League of Women Voters in Florida formed bonds with marginalized residents by helping them register to vote — and, in recent years, those efforts have extended to the growing Asian American and Asian immigrant communities. But a state law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May would have forced the group to alter its strategy. The legislation would have imposed a $50,000 fine on third-party voter registration organizations if the staff or volunteers who handle or collect the forms have been convicted of a felony or are not U.S. citizens.A federal judge blocked the provision. The NAACP and other groups that register voters sued the state over provisions in a larger elections bill Republican Gov. DeSantis signed on the same day he announced he is running for president. its passage reflects the effort by DeSantis and other GOP leaders to crack down on access to the ballot.“If there’s not access, in terms of language, we can’t get to as many people, which particularly affects AAPI voters,” Executive Director Leah Nash of the League of Women Voters said, referring to the state’s Asian American and Pacific Island population, which has grown rapidly and where more than 30% of adults have limited English proficiency.In states where penalties are getting tougher, the developments have sowed fear and confusion among groups that provide translators, voter registration help and assistance with mail-in balloting — roles that voting rights advocates say are vital for Asian communities in particular.“It’s specifically targeting limited English proficiency voters, and that includes AAPI voters,” said Meredyth Yoon , litigation director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Atlanta.In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill in June that raises the penalty for illegal voting to a felony, upping it from a misdemeanor charge that was part of a sweeping elections law passed two years earlier. Alice Yi , who is Chinese American, used to help translate in Austin, Texas, but said the new law isn’t clear about whether good faith mistakes will be criminalized and worries that she could get into trouble by offering assistance. Ashley Cheng , the founding president of Asian Texans for Justice, recalls discovering her mother was not listed in the voter rolls when she tried to help her vote in 2018. They never found out why she wasn’t properly registered. Advocates say this highlights flaws in the system and illustrates how volunteers are essential to overcoming them. Farha Ahmed , an attorney in Texas, said the increased liability in helping these marginalized communities access the ballot box forced her to decide against continuing as an election judge, a position that administers voting procedures and settles disputes concerning election laws. “There’s not a lot of resources and there’s not a lot of protection,” said Ahmed. “Election judges want to help make it easy for people to vote, but with these new laws in place, they’re very unsure of where is their liability when they’re really just trying to do their best to help.”A section of Georgia’s 2021 election bill made it a misdemeanor to offer a voter any money or gifts at polling places, a provision that included passing out water and snacks for those waiting in lines. Attempts to get a court to toss out the ban on snacks and water have so far been unsuccessful. James Woo , the communications director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, said he won’t even get his parents a drink of water while helping them with their ballots.Read the AP report: https://bit.ly/3NM9z3s No Longer Suffering In Silence: Asian Americans Denied Tech Leadership Roles Go To Court According to USA Today on July 6, 2023, Vaishnavi Jayakumar joined Facebook and Instagram owner Meta after stints at Disney, Google and Twitter in January 2020. Her job on the youth policy team was to protect children and teens from bullying, harassment and other forms of abuse. But Jayakumar – an Asian American originally from Singapore – says she couldn’t shield herself from racial bias on the job. Soon after inquiring how she could move up at Meta, Jayakumar says her supervisor began leaving her out of opportunities and initiatives that used to be in her scope and “layering” her under less experienced employees. Despite years of experience and positive feedback as a team player, Jayakumar says her supervisor told her she was not senior or collaborative enough to be promoted, according to a complaint Jayakumar filed with California’s Civil Rights Department.While her workload and responsibilities increased, Jayakumar says her performance ratings began to slip. “I've never felt more keenly that as an Asian woman, I'm destined to be a worker, I'm not destined to be a leader,” she said in an interview. “And that's an awful feeling... The generations of men and women before us had to suffer in silence. I don't think any one of us wants this to continue for a minute longer than it already has.”Jayakumar is one of a growing number of Asian Americans in the tech industry breaking their silence and going public with charges of discrimination and retaliation. In a series of recently filed lawsuits, they say that racial biases spanning decades in Silicon Valley that typecast Asian Americans as worker bees have shut them out of management and executive positions with greater power, profile and pay.Research shows that Asian Americans are the most likely to be hired in professional roles yet the least likely of all racial groups to break into tech company leadership. At Meta, 46% of employees were Asian American in 2021, but just 27% of executives. White employees, on the other hand, accounted for 39% of Meta's workforce but 58% of its executives.“The tech industry has made progress in becoming more racially diverse in its workforce but has made virtually no progress in becoming more racially equitable in its leadership pipeline,” said Buck Gee , an executive adviser to Ascend Foundation, the nation’s largest network of Asian American professionals. Asian Americans are left out of diversity discussions and initiatives because there is a perception that they don’t face adversity in the workplace when, in fact, the economic realities for Asians and Asian Americans vary greatly, particularly for those in low-wage and low-opportunity jobs on H-1B visas, said Pawan Dhingra , president of the Association for Asian American Studies president and a professor at Amherst College. “Asians are seen as an immigrant group that in many ways is doing pretty well," Dhingra said. "There is not a major movement to worry about the plight of Asian Americans outside of hate crimes on the street.”That began to change with the groundswell of anti-Asian hate and violence during the COVID pandemic. Participation in employee resource groups and workplace activism surged. More Asian Americans began calling out workplace bias, even in the insular tech industry. “The pandemic really galvanized the community, especially those of us in tech, because I think we all saw that what was happening in the streets was happening in the workplace,” said Jack Song , who advises tech startups on their communications and branding. Song says he was inspired to share his story publicly by Justin Zhu , the ex-CEO of tech startup Iterable who is suing his former company and co-founded the nonprofit organization Stand with Asian Americans to help others in a similar situation. Zhu says he filed a lawsuit alleging retaliation after he says he was fired for raising complaints about anti-Asian discrimination. Not everyone has the resources to fight back, Zhu says. So Stand with Asian Americans is launching a workplace justice initiative."A core purpose of the workplace justice initiative is to show that you are not alone in fighting racism in the workplace. We connect people with survivors who have faced discrimination, give moral support, give legal support and we help them tell their story so they can get the support they need in this David vs. Goliath fight," he told USA Today . Ben Huynh says his troubles began in May 2022 when he was promoted into the management ranks at software company Coda. Huynh says he didn’t get a pay increase with the promotion unlike his peers and believed he was earning less than his peers. So he complained to human resources. “Despite the quality of my work, once I had spoken out, the gates began closing around me,” said Huynh, who is Vietnamese American. “I felt iced out and like a pariah.” “There's a shift because people are seeing that they have to take action or things will not change,” said Huynh, who filed a lawsuit against Coda in June, alleging discrimination and retaliation based on race. “If we want to see something change, we have to do something about it.”But with the industry roiled by large-scale layoffs that are disproportionately affecting people of color, the decision to act can be fraught, said attorney Charles Jung . Asian Americans often worry that no one will have their back if they come forward, said Jung, a name partner with Nassiri & Jung. The few Asians who make it to the top seem hesitant to rock the boat or bring up diversity issues, he said.Jung’s client Andre Wong , who is Chinese American, says he found out firsthand the consequences of speaking out in an industry where anti-Asian bias is rarely acknowledged. Wong, who worked at Lumentum for more than 20 years, says he led the development of the company’s most profitable product line and helped the company expand into new markets.In 2021, Wong says he helped start the Asian Employee Resource group which obtained demographic data showing that while 60% of Lumentum’s U.S. workforce is Asian, senior executives were mostly white, with less than 15% of them Asian. In May 2022, Wong said he was given a “glass cliff” assignment – a role that women and minorities are handed with little chance of success – as the only non-white employee on a team. He says he accepted the assignment with assurances he would soon be considered for a promotion to senior vice president. Instead, he was terminated in December. Wong is suing Lumentum for $20 million in damages. He says he would donate a big chunk of any award he receives to the cause of fighting anti-Asian discrimination. “Asian Americans are the engine behind all these tech companies. Many of these technical teams are almost exclusively Asian American employees. But the leadership in strategic or business positions are not minorities," Wong said. "When you finally step back and see it, it’s so stark.” Read the USA Today report: https://bit.ly/3D4mCsk Houston Town Hall Meetings on Asiatown Community Safety According to Houston Public Media on July 7, 2023, Houston police said they are still looking for a second suspect involved in a shooting robbery that led to a restaurant worker being hospitalized. During a townhall meeting in Houston’s Asiatown in the evening of July 6, police said they arrested the first suspect in the robbery of Holam Cheng , who was shot four times, but still need help on finding the second. The meeting was held to address concerns of crime in the community, especially after Cheng was shot. The meeting was attended by U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green , Texas state representative Gene Wu , Chief Troy Finner and Assistant Chief Ben Tien .Throughout the meeting community members discussed concerns with their own experiences. One speaker claimed he and his sister were the victims of a hate crime, but they have yet to get a case number from police on it. “I ended up with concussion, my sister ended up in the hospital with life threatening injuries, she spent a couple of weeks in the hospital. And I’ve reported it to the police and our investigator,” he said. “He refused to contact the perpetrators, three white men. And he refused to interview them.”Finner said he would make sure that he got a case number and would personally look into the case.Other speakers said they wanted the department to increase officers patrolling in Asiatown, and address language barriers when reporting crimes. Finner warned the community that some see them as a target, and to be vigilant.Read the Houston Public Media report: https://bit.ly/43ciTDD Asian residents in Houston demand more bilingual officers to fight crime The second townhall was held in the morning of July 8 at the Chinese Civic Center. HPD Assistant Police Chief Yasar Bashir , Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena , representation from HCSO, U.S. Congressional Members Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green , Texas State Senator John Whitmire , Stafford City Council member Alice Chen attended. The discussion was led by Texas State Representative Gene Wu .According Fox26 on July 8, 2023, Asian residents in Houston are concerned about crime in their community and are calling for more bilingual officers to help them feel safe. Residents said in the meeting they are worried about the recent violent crime in the Asiatown area. They specifically cited the case of Holam Cheng , who police say was robbed and shot six times on June 25.According to an update from GoFundMe , "my father has woken up thankfully. He has been undergoing many surgeries and will be continuing to. Thank you everyone for the blessings and support. We will share updates whenever possible."Read and watch the Fox26 report: https://bit.ly/3D30Rc2 Back View PDF July 10, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #71 06/30 Roundtable; 07/12 Meeting; Mistrial; "China Initiative;" Yellow Whistle; Alert #71 06/30 Roundtable; 07/12 Meeting; Mistrial; "China Initiative;" Yellow Whistle; Alert Back View PDF July 8, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) has launched the Anti-Racial Profiling Project (ARPP). October 6, 2020 On October 6, 2020, Advancing Justice | Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) launched the Anti-Racial Profiling Project (ARPP). Watch the press briefing here . On October 7, 2020, Advancing Justice | AAJC launched the first webinar for ARPP for the public and followed with a detailed message about the project on October 9. How You Can Get Help Legal Referral . Contact AAJC via the Signal app with the number 202-935-6014 or text ONLY a name and phone number to 202-935-6014 and wait for an AAJC staff member to make direct contact. Know Your Rights . Covering 3 areas: (a) When approached by law enforcement (including the FBI, Special Agents from an agency’s Office of Inspector General or security office, or other Federal, state or local police); (b) When law enforcement comes to your house; (c) SPECIFIC PRECAUTIONS FOR SCIENTISTS, SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS How You Can Help Make a Tax-Deductible Donation to Advancing Justice | AAJC . AAJC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Sign up for the APA Justice newsletter to keep informed on the latest developments Spread the word about the Anti-Racial Profiling Project Stories from Impacted People Dr. Wei Su : Concern for the younger generation: The targeting and profiling of Chinese and Asian Americans and Immigrants Dr. Xiaoxing Xi : Spying charges against Chinese American scientists spakr fears of a witch hunt Ms. Sherry Chen : Ohio scientist accused of spying sues government after charges dropped Dr. Wen Ho Lee : The Making of a Suspect: The Case of Web Ho Lee Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) has launched the Anti-Racial Profiling Project (ARPP). Previous Next Anti-Racial Profiling Project Launched

Newsletter - #80 FBI Reports Behind Visa Fraud Case Dismissals; Concern Re Knox News Journalist #80 FBI Reports Behind Visa Fraud Case Dismissals; Concern Re Knox News Journalist Back View PDF August 30, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Programs and Initiatives Explore ways to get involved. Click on a program below to learn more about efforts to combat racial profiling and unfair government policies, or find them in the menu above. Advocacy Read More Advocacy for justice and fairness: our work with policy makers to push for AAPI rights and to ensure justice for AAPI academics and scientists. Community Networking Read More A network giving greater resources and a more assertive voice to the Asian American community. History & Education Read More Learn more about important historical events and cases involving Asian American people and culture. Yellow Whistle Campagn Read More Our partnership with the Yellow Whistle Project to promote self-protection and solidarity against discrimination and violence.

Newsletter - #121 4/4 Meeting; End Injustice for Sherry; After the "China Initiative;" American History #121 4/4 Meeting; End Injustice for Sherry; After the "China Initiative;" American History Back View PDF March 28, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter